Need Help To Id Parasite

[jollysue]

The oscar at work has a parasitic worm. It looks like a tapeworm to me, but before I suggest or supply a med, I'd like to make more sure of the diagnosis.

It appeared to be coming out of his gill. It was long (maybe three inches), white, flat, and breaking off in sections of 1/8-1/4". It looks like the tapeworms I have treated dogs for. Sections of it are scattered on the bottom of the tank. One of the boys in our group home used to catch and put in the tank wild aquatics: crawdads and bass I remember. All against my recommendation.

I have just learned that other staff saw worms protruding from the crawdads butt. The crawdads and bass have long ago been harrassed to death by Oscar.

I have some PrazilPro at home in my med supply. Would that be appropriate? I also have Spectrum Thera pellets and Jungle anti-parasite medicated food.

I'd appreciate any help here.

The oscar is about 12" and strong.

 

[jollysue]

Well, I am going around updating where I have posted this problem. I think now that whatever it was it wasn't coming from his gill, but floating around/on/about/stuck to his gill fin. It remains to discover if it was detrius or parasite. I'll let you know.

Still I think in this case a broad anti parasite treatment may be in order.

 

[WILDER]

What was the colour of the worm coming out of the butt.

 

[jollysue]

Of the crawdad? I didn't see that. I won't be back to work until next week or see that staff until Monday night, I think.

What I saw was white and hanging off his gill fin.

This morning he had, I believe, detrius hanging from his butt. It was grayish, but they are feeding him the base quality Cichlid pellets.

 

[WILDER]

I would use the med you mentioned for tape worms good luck.

 

[jollysue]

I think it's a safe move. It seems to be a med that is not too dangerous.

Wilder, your honeys, I've seen some of those orange/red ones but wondered if they are the same species as my yellow honeys?

 

[WILDER]

Yes they are the same i think.
here is some info on parasites different kind.
http/www.webdezine.freeserve.co.uk/parasites.htm

 

[jollysue]

They are lovely honeys.

And thanks. I'll take a look.

Last night I found some Fish and Game sites reporting a tapeworm that cycles between bass and crawdads which has invaded some areas. They had the wild bass and crawdads in the tank with oscar.

 

[WILDER]

Also you can use Levamisole Hydrochlorideon tape worms.

http/www.loaches.com/faq_parasites.html

 

[jollysue]

I'm going to go with PrazilPro(I believe at this moment), because the other requires a low ph, and I'll be treating fronties as well as Oscar. My cichlid tanks have cichlid substrate, so it would be difficult to lower the ph. It would also be dificult for me to have any control over the tank at work when I'm not there. I do plan to check in of course with my lfs to see what they do with wild caught fish.

I'll let you know what we do and how it goes.

 

[WILDER]

Ok, good luck.